Pole-tip.



No. 792,960. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

I S. BATES.

POLE TIP. APPLICATION F ILED FEB. 28, 1905.

NITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

POLE-TIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,960, dated June 20, 1905. I

Application filed February 28, 1905. Serial No. 247,696.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Liberty, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Pole- Tip, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in pole-tips.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of pole-tips and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of great strength and durability adapted to be readily applied to the end of a pole or tongue and capable of securely retaining the ring of a neck-yoke in engagement with the same, whereby the pole or tongue is effectually prevented from dropping while a team is hitched to the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to effectually prevent the lines from becoming caught on the front end of a pole or tongue or interfering with the locking device for retaining the neck-yoke ring on the same and to construct and arrange the locking device so that it will not be struck and operated should the tongue or pole come in contact with an object.

VV'th these and other objects in view the in vention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pole-ti p constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end loop and the upper and lower plates for the pole. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the fixed catch or keeper.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a loop arranged at the front end of a tongue or pole 2 and provided with integral upper and lower plates 3 and 4:, fitted against and conforming to the configuration of the upper and lower faces of the tongue or pole 2 and secured to the same by screws or other suitable fastening devices. The loop, which is adapted to permit additional draftanimals to be connected to the tongue or pole, also presents a smooth rounded exterior for preventing the lines from catching on it.

The tongue or pole is provided at the bottom of its front end or portion with a fixed catch orkeeper adapted to receive a neckyoke ring 5 and consisting of a bar 6, having its front and intermediate portion spaced from the tongue or pole and secured at its rear end to the same and provided near its front portion with a pin 7. The bar 6, which extends longitudinally of the tongue or pole, is bent at opposite points to provide a rear upper portion, a lower front portion, and an intermediate inclined connecting portion. The pin 7, which may be constructed in any desired manner, is preferably provided at its lower portion with an enlargement 8, forming upper and lower shoulders to fit against the upthe plate 4 and spaced from the lower end of the pin to provide a lower portion, which is passed through and secured to the bar 6. The pin is rounded above the enlargement 8, which is preferably rectangular, and the upper rounded portion pierces the tongue and the top and bottom plates 3 and 4: and is headed at its upper end for engaging the top plate 8.

The front portion of the bar 6 extends in advance of the vertical pin 7 to form a projecting bill or arm, which is spaced from and arranged parallel with the tongue or pole and which is engaged by a vertically-movable bolt 9. The vertically 1 movable bolt, which is adapted to close the space between the arm or bill and the tongue or pole, pierces the latter and is held in engagement with the said arm or bill by a coiled spring 10, disposed on a reduced upper portion 11 of the bolt and interposed between the upper top plate 3 and the shoulder formed by reducing the bolt. The bolt is provided at its upper end with a head 12, which is adapted to lie against the top plate and which may be readily grasped for withdrawing the bolt to release the neckyoke ring. The lower portion of the bolt is cylindrical and is disposed vertically, and its lower end, which is horizontal, fits flat against the upper face of the front end of the bar 6, so that in order to release the neck-yoke ring the bolt must be raised by hand. By this construction there is no liability of the bolt being accidentally lifted and the neck-ring released should the tongue or pole come in contact with a post or other object. Also there is no liability of the lines catching beneath the tongue and operating the bolt, and the vibra tion of the tongue or pole incident to horse motion cannot shake the ring loose.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a pole-tip, the combination with a tongue, of a loop provided with top and bottom plates spaced apart to receive the front end of the tongue, a fixed catch or keeper consisting of a longitudinal bar secured at its rear portion to the lower face of the tongue and having its front portion spaced from the same and provided between its ends with a pin piercing the tongue and having a lower enlarged portion interposed between the tongue and the bar, the front end of the latter forming a projecting bill or arm, and a springactuated bolt piercing the tongue and provided at the upper face thereof with operating means, said bolt having a lower projecting portion fitting fiat against the arm or bill and closing the front end of the space between the arm or bill and the tongue.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL BATES.

Witnesses! D. D. BATES, HATTIE M. SWEENEY. 

